Da Vinci Science

Some Highlights from the Week:

Advanced Physics at Knott’s Physics Day- studying the velocity, gravitation, and acceleration in a real-world setting

Seniors calculating focal lengths and magnification factors of lenses. This lab models what happens in your eye to project an image on your retina.

LMU Math Professor Robin Wilson shared about his educational journey at the joint BSU and NSBE meeting this week, and also visited our Collegiate Mathematical Thinking Seminar

Senior Awards Night 2025!

Posted in Uncategorized

Week 35 Schedule

Posted on May 17, 2025 by Grace Long

We are heading into Week 35! Week 38 is the last week of school, and the end of the school year is fast approaching. The Seniors are enjoying their last few weeks as DVS students before they become DVS Alumni! We had a fun Senior Week with events such as dress like a senior citizen, word challenges, and Soak a Senior during lunch. Meanwhile, the Freshmen class enjoyed more team-building with Fulcrum and are experiencing how quickly the high school years can go by.

We hope that all students continue to finish the year strong with only two weeks left until POL week!

Week 35 Schedule:

Week 35 Announcements:

Course Selection for 2025-2026 School Year: Students heard about the course selection process and options for next school year’s classes in their English classes this week. Here is a list of 25-26 courses and the DVS Course Catalog (some courses subject to change based on enrollment). This Course Request Form (Da Vinci account required) was posted on Canvas and is due on Friday, May 30th, 2025.
Restaurant Fundraiser: Join us this Wednesday, 5/2,1 at both Tera Coffee and The Second Wind Asian-inspired Eatery just up the street at 747 N Douglas for a restaurant fundraiser for DVS hosted by the DVS Parent Association! Check out their menus here and here. Show or mention THIS RESTAURANT FUNDRAISER FLYER and a portion of your order will be donated to DVS!

Parent Association Meeting & Social: Let’s celebrate and mingle about all things DVS Parents! Bring a DVS Parent friend and meet up at our last DVSPA meeting and social of the school year, also this Wednesday, 5/21 – during the restaurant fundraiser – 5:30 – 7pm at The Second Wind, 747 N Douglas. All are welcome! Bring your feedback, questions and ideas for DVS Parent Association projects, events and more at this open house style meeting and social.
Presentations of Learning: Presentations of Learning (POLs) for all students will take place during Weeks 37 and 38 (6/3-6/10).
- Click here for an information sheet for families with details about presentations of learning.
- When not presenting or watching presentations during POL week, students will be augmenting their learning in Extended Learning Rooms with guest speakers and workshops. More info to come, but students will not want to miss out on some great, FREE college and career preparation opportunities!
Class of 2026 Senior Portraits: Senior portraits will be taken on campus over the summer this year by Stacee Lianna! See more information in this flyer, and sign up for a session at this link.
Junior College Planning Meetings: Our College and Career Counselor, Ms. Francisca Marquez is continuing to host the Individual Post-DVS Planning Meetings with juniors and their parent/guardian. Every Junior is expected to schedule a meeting at this link and have at least one parent/guardian present. However, if a parent/guardian is unable to attend, students are still expected to sign up. This meeting can be in person, over the phone or via Zoom. These meetings can also be conducted in Spanish, if needed. Here is the meeting agenda. If you have any questions about the Individual Junior College Planning Meeting, please reach out to Ms. Marquez, College and Career Counselor, directly (fmarquez@davincischools.org). If you have questions about your transcript, please reach out to Ms. Valle, Academic and Wellness Counselor for the Class of 2026 (cvalle@davincischools.org).
2025 DVS Yearbook: The 2025 yearbook is ready to purchase at the school yearbook at Varsity Press. Click here for link. Prices start at $55 and are soon to change.
Kelvin Education Spring Parent Survey: All families should have received a survey in their email inbox from Kelvin Education with the Subject: We Want to Hear From You – Take the Da Vinci Family Survey! This spring survey includes questions about school culture, teaching and learning, student experiences and overall satisfaction. Please take the survey by Friday May 21. Your voice is important, and every voice counts!
Last Week to Order DVS Merch: It’s been great to see students and parents wearing their new DVS gear from the DVSPA fundraiser. Wednesday, 5/21 will be the last day to ORDER DVSPA MERCH for this school year. Get your order in today for distribution before the end of the school year. Images and more details in this DVSPA Spring Merch flyer.
2025-2026 Calendar: Posted on Da Vinci Schools Website
Graduation Information: All Class of 2025 Families should have received an email with Graduation Information last week. Here are the Graduation details and information.

Important Upcoming Dates:

Wednesday, 5/21 DVS Parent Association Meeting at 5:30pm
Monday, 5/26 Memorial Day Holiday – No School
Tuesday, 5/27 Last Day of TTh Seminar
Wednesday, 5/28 Last Day of MW Seminar
Tuesday, 6/3 9th Grade POLs Begin
Wednesday, 6/4 10th Grade POLs and 12th Grade SRPs Begin
Thursday, 6/5 11th Grade POLs Begin
Friday, 6/6 Disneyland Grad Nite
Tuesday, 6/10 Senior Breakfast & Grad Rehearsal
Wednesday, 6/11 Last Day of the 2024-2025 School Year
Thursday, 6/12 Class of 2025 Graduation at 1:00pm
2025-2026 School Year: First Day of School, Monday, August 18th

Helpful Links:

Some Highlights from the Week:

9th Grade Team Building on Fulcrum Day

Soak a Senior during Senior Week!

Northrop Grumman HIP Program

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Week 34 Schedule

Posted on May 10, 2025 by Grace Long

What an eventful week last week! After much preparation and anticipation, Da Vinci Science completed the WASC visit last week. WASC committee members spent time with all stakeholders, including the Da Vinci Board, Central Office, parents, students, alumni, teachers, and staff. They spent the week observing our school and getting to know all that occurs in our school daily. The reviews were overwhelmingly positive and members shared comments such as, “students were so engaged in their learning,” “students were so respectful of all their teachers,” “such a supportive parent community,” and “kids are getting learning experiences we haven’t seen at other schools.” A heartfelt thank you to all of our students, families, and community members for all the support and hard work to make our school the best it can be for our students. We are very grateful and proud of the work we do here at DVS, and we couldn’t do it without your support.

Thank you, students and families, for a beautiful Teacher Appreciation Week! Teachers and Staff felt all the love and appreciation and received delicious meals, coffee, snacks, treats, notes, and gifts throughout the week. Thank you for your generosity, thoughtfulness, and time in making our teachers and staff feel special.

With less than five weeks of school left and three weeks of instruction before POL week, we encourage students to finish the semester strong and to keep striving for excellence.

DVS also wants to wish our special, loving, hard-working, amazing, wonderful moms out there a very Happy Mother’s Day!

Week 34 Schedule:

Week 34 Announcements:

Progress Reports: The last grade update of the semester before final report cards happened earlier this week. Please check your snail mail boxes in a week or so for progress reports that were just mailed home. All coursework and grading information will continue to be through Canvas.Student and Parent/Guardian Canvas Link: https://davincischools.instructure.com. Additional Canvas resources are available at the bottom of the Academics page on our blog
Course Selection for 2025-2026 School Year: Students will be hearing about the course selection process for next school year’s classes this week in their English classes. The 25-26 Course Selection Form will be posted on Canvas at the end of the week. Here is a list of 25-26 courses (some courses subject to change based on enrollment).
2025-2026 Calendar: Posted on Da Vinci Schools Website
Technology Reminder: It was brought to our attention this week that a concerning Tik Tok trend that encourages students to tamper with devices is circulating. Please remind students that any attempts to tamper with school technology or bypass restrictions (such as filters, network settings, or device configurations) are strictly prohibited and may result in disciplinary action. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and secure learning environment.
11th Grade CHYA Refresh Presentations: Dr. Emily Green and Nurse Titsyana Lucero will be presenting a refresh of the health & sexual education curriculum (“CHYA”, or “California Healthy Youth Act”) during 11th grade biology classes Monday-Wednesday, May 12th-14th. Click this link to read the notification letter from Dr. Green. If you have any questions about the content that will be covered, please email Dr. Green at egreen@davincischools.org. Parents have the right to “opt-out” of this presentation for their child. If you wish to do so, please email Saya Wai, DVS Assistant Principal, at swai@davincischools.org.
Junior College Planning Meetings: Ms. Marquez is hosting the Individual Post-DVS Planning Meetings with juniors and their parent/guardian. Every Junior is expected to schedule a meeting and have at least one parent/guardian present. However, if a parent/guardian is unable to attend, students are still expected to sign up. This meeting can be in person, over the phone or via Zoom. These meetings can also be conducted in Spanish, if needed. Meeting information:
- Meeting sign-up
- Meeting Agenda
- Complete the Parent/Guardian Letter
- Build a college list using your A-G GPA as your baseline and SAT/ACT test scores, if applicable. For your reference, here is the Just for Juniors presentation Ms. Valle and Ms. Marquez did prior to spring break which will support in GPA calculations and building college lists.
- If you have any questions about the Individual Junior College Planning Meeting, please reach out to Ms. Marquez, College and Career Counselor, directly (fmarquez@davincischools.org). If you have questions about your transcript, please reach out to Ms. Valle, Academic and Wellness Counselor for the Class of 2026 (cvalle@davincischools.org). We look forward to meeting with each of you to discuss your Post-DVS Plans!
2025 DVS Yearbook: The 2025 yearbook is ready to purchase at the school yearbook at Varsity Press. Click here for link. Prices start at $55 and are soon to change.
Spring Parent Survey: Your feedback is important to us. All families should have received a survey in their email inbox from Kelvin Education.
- Subject: We Want to Hear From You – Take the Da Vinci Family Survey! This spring survey includes questions about school culture, teaching and learning, student experiences, and overall satisfaction. Please take the survey by Friday, May 21. Your voice is essential, and every voice counts!

Parent Association

- You all – DVS Families – made a huge impact this week for Teacher and Staff Appreciation week. A sincere thank you to everyone who donated items, time, money or sent in words of appreciation and/or supported their students to say “thank you” to someone on campus this week. We also thank the Second Wind restaurant who graciously donated lunch for teachers and staff this past Monday.
- It’s been great to see students and parents wearing their new DVS gear from the DVSPA fundraiser. Wednesday, 5/21 will be the last day to ORDER DVSPA MERCH for this school year. Get your order in today for distribution before the end of the school year. Images and more details in this DVSPA Spring Merch flyer.
- Let’s Celebrate – Join fellow DVS parents for dinner and connection at the DVSPA meeting/social Wed 5/21 at 5:30pm. We will be meeting at Terra Coffee and Boba/The Second Wind restaurant, 747 N Douglas St, to reflect and celebrate. Please come and bring any ideas you have for service projects to support our DVS community

Important Upcoming Dates:

Monday, 5/12 Senior Beach Day
Monday, 5/12 9th Grade Fulcrum Day
Wednesday, 5/21 DVS Parent Association Meeting at 5:30pm
Monday, 5/26 Memorial Day Holiday – No School
Tuesday, 5/27 Last Day of TTh Seminar
Wednesday, 5/28 Last Day of MW Seminar
Tuesday, 6/3 9th Grade POLs Begin
Wednesday, 6/4 10th Grade POLs and 12th Grade SRPs Begin
Thursday, 6/5 11th Grade POLs Begin
Friday, 6/6 Disneyland Grad Nite
Tuesday, 6/10 Senior Breakfast & Grad Rehearsal
Wednesday, 6/11 Last Day of the 2024-2025 School Year
Thursday, 6/12 Class of 2025 Graduation at 1:00pm
2025-2026 School Year: First Day of School, Monday, August 18th

Helpful Links:

Some Highlights from the Week:

Advanced Physics calculating the thickness of their hair using laser diffraction patterns

HBS Juniors got a visit from doctors from Torrance Memorial Community Center and learned about the pharmacy profession. They practiced injecting an intramuscular vaccine to Patient Orange. Thank you, TMMC!

Students in HBS – hands-on learning with lungs

11th-grade pathway students and SWE visited Cal Poly SLO to experience their “Learn By Doing” philosophy at the college level.

Thank you for a beautiful Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week! We are so grateful to our parents and students!

Posted in Uncategorized

Week 33 Schedule

Posted on May 4, 2025 by Grace Long

This week is Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week! We want to take a moment to acknowledge all of the love, care, and amazing learning experiences DVS teachers and staff work hard to provide for all of our students. Thank you, DVS Teachers and staff! Thank you, families and students, for making our teachers and staff feel appreciated this week!

Last week was another packed week: SBAC Testing, dissections in science labs, field trips for career-connected learning, AAPI CD, Decision Day, and Prom… to name a few! This coming week is another pivotal week for DVS. We have our WASC accreditation review this week, during which WASC visitors will observe our school and interview stakeholders to understand better and verify all we do here at DVS. Thank you for your continued support.

Week 33 Schedule:

Week 33 Announcements:

Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week: Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week is HERE, and the DVS Parent Association needs your help celebrating them ** Sign up and donate by Tues May 6 ** SIGN UP HERE! If you’re unable to bring items onto campus, no worries! We can use Costco or Target e-gift cards sent to DVSappreciation@gmail.com. Notes of appreciation can be dropped off at the DVS front office all week. Thank you to all families who have already contributed to making our teachers feel special. Here are some additional ideas for students to show their appreciation:
- Monday – Message of Thanks: Write a thoughtful note or thank-you card to one (or more!) of your teachers. A few kind words go a long way!
- Tuesday – Say It Out Loud: Share words of affirmation. Tell your teachers what you appreciate most about them — don’t hold back the love!
- Wednesday – Flower Power: Bring in a flower (real, handmade, or even drawn!) to brighten your teacher’s day.
- Thursday – Tasty Treats: Surprise your teachers with something sweet or delicious. Homemade or store-bought — it’s the thought that counts!
- Friday – Final Touch Friday: Consider giving a small gift or a gift card as a token of appreciation (only if it’s appropriate and possible for you).
Grade Updates: Staff update grades on PD days so grades are up-to-date by the Tuesday of the following week. Tuesday, 5/6 will be the last grade update of the semester before final report cards. All coursework and grading information will continue to be through Canvas.
- Student and Parent/Guardian Canvas Link: https://davincischools.instructure.com
- Additional Canvas resources are available at the bottom of the Academics page on our blog.
11th Grade CHYA Refresh Presentations: Dr. Emily Green and Nurse Titsyana Lucero will be presenting a refresh of the health & sexual education curriculum (“CHYA”, or “California Healthy Youth Act”) during 11th grade biology classes Monday-Wednesday, May 12th-14th. Click this link to read the notification letter from Dr. Green. If you have any questions about the content that will be covered, please email Dr. Green at egreen@davincischools.org. Parents have the right to “opt-out” of this presentation for their child. If you wish to do so, please email Saya Wai, DVS Assistant Principal, at swai@davincischools.org.
FREE SAT/PSAT and College App/Essay Seminars: PJ Test prep is offering FREE SAT/ACT Practice Test & Results Seminars and FREE College Essay & App Seminars via Zoom in May and July. PJ Test Prep is a small, boutique SAT/ACT prep and tutoring company based here in the South Bay and West LA that has been providing support to DVS students during Test Prep Seminar for several years. Sign up for the seminars at this link.
Junior College Planning Meetings: Ms. Marquez will host the Individual Post-DVS Planning Meetings with juniors and their parent/guardian in May and June. The purpose of these meetings is to discuss next year’s plan; including the college application process and student’s overall post-high school plans. Every Junior is expected to schedule a meeting and have at least one parent/guardian present. However, if a parent/guardian is unable to attend, students are still expected to sign up. This meeting can be in person, over the phone or via Zoom. These meetings can also be conducted in Spanish, if needed. Meeting information:
- Meeting sign-up
- Meeting Agenda
- Complete the Parent/Guardian Letter
- Build a college list using your A-G GPA as your baseline and SAT/ACT test scores, if applicable. For your reference, here is the Just for Juniors presentation Ms. Valle and Ms. Marquez did prior to spring break which will support in GPA calculations and building college lists.
- If you have any questions about the Individual Junior College Planning Meeting, please reach out to Ms. Marquez, College and Career Counselor, directly (fmarquez@davincischools.org). If you have questions about your transcript, please reach out to Ms. Valle, Academic and Wellness Counselor for the Class of 2026 (cvalle@davincischools.org). We look forward to meeting with each of you to discuss your Post-DVS Plans!
2025 DVS Yearbook: The 2025 yearbook is ready to purchase at the school yearbook at Varsity Press. Click here for link. Prices start at $55 and are soon to change.
DVS Families Coffee: In lieu of the regular scheduled DVS Families Coffee time, families are invited to attend the WASC review presentation form Wednesday, 5/7,4:00 on campus in Ms. Hernandez’s room.

Important Upcoming Dates:

Monday – Wednesday, 5/5-5/7 WASC Accreditation Visit
Friday, 5/9: Cal Poly SLO Field Trip- 11th Grade Pathways
Monday, 5/12 Senior Beach Day
Monday, 5/12 9th Grade Fulcrum Day
Wednesday, 5/21 DVS Parent Association Meeting at 5:30pm
Monday, 5/26 Memorial Day Holiday – No School
Tuesday, 5/27 Last Day of TTh Seminar
Wednesday, 5/28 Last Day of MW Seminar
Tuesday, 6/3 9th Grade POLs Begin
Wednesday, 6/4 10th Grade POLs and 12th Grade SRPs Begin
Thursday, 6/5 11th Grade POLs Begin
Friday, 6/6 Disneyland Grad Nite
Tuesday, 6/10 Senior Breakfast & Grad Rehearsal
Wednesday, 6/11 Last Day of the 2024-2025 School Year
Thursday, 6/12 Class of 2025 Graduation at 1:00pm

Helpful Links:

Some Highlights from the Week:

SWE girls at the MUSES Woman of the Year luncheon at the Jonathan Club. They got to hear inspiring words from honoree, Renata Simril, CEO of LA84 Foundation and spearheaded the new Science of Sports exhibition at CA Science Center

May is AAPI Heritage Month. Thank you, Leadership, for putting together a beautiful CD to celebrate.

Decision Day on May 1, 2025- Congratulations to the Class of 2025 on your decision for the next chapter in your lives!

Senior Prom 2025

Posted in Uncategorized

Week 32 Schedule

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Grace Long

We had a very busy week coming back from the break. From CLD Day to a field trip to Belkin, to Collegewise Info. Session, to Earth Day, bag making, and Beats projects in Physics! We now have less than 7 weeks of school this semester, and still lots of learning, projects, activities, events, and fun in store for the remainder of the school year. It will go by quickly!

This month, we celebrate AAPI Heritage Month. Our Leadership students look forward to hosting a fun and meaningful CD this Wednesday, April 23rd. May 1st is Decision Day, and we look forward to cheering on our Seniors- Class of 2025 as they share what their plans are for the next chapter in their lives. And of course, we look forward to PD day on Friday, which will give seniors extra time to get ready for Prom, May 2nd at 6:00. We look forward to creating lasting, fond high school memories for all our students.

Week 32 Schedule:

Week 32 Announcements:

11th Grade Statewide Testing: All 11th grade students will be taking the SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) in the areas of English Language Arts and Mathematics as well as the CAST (California Science Test) this coming Monday and Tuesday, April 28th and 29th during school hours. Please see this State Testing Parent Notification Letter for more information.
Parent/Guardians Needed for WASC: Da Vinci Science’s WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) accreditation visit is coming up May 5th-7th. The primary goals of accreditation are certification to the public that the school is a trustworthy institution of learning. During this time, WASC Visiting Committee Members will be on campus, meeting with stakeholders and observing classes. We are in need of parents/guardians to meet with the WASC Visiting Committee to share your experience as a parent/guardian of DVS. This meeting will take place in a hybrid format (you can come to campus or join via Zoom) on Sunday, May 4th at 5:15pm. If you are available and willing to participate in this meeting, please fill out this form, and we will reach out to you with details.
11th Grade CHYA Refresh Presentations: Dr. Emily Green and Nurse Titsyana Lucero will be presenting a refresh of the health & sexual education curriculum (“CHYA”, or “California Healthy Youth Act”) during 11th grade biology classes Monday-Wednesday, May 12th-14th. Click this link to read the notification letter from Dr. Green. If you have any questions about the content that will be covered, please email Dr. Green at egreen@davincischools.org. Parents have the right to “opt-out” of this presentation for their child. If you wish to do so, please email Saya Wai, DVS Assistant Principal, at swai@davincischools.org.
FREE SAT/PSAT and College App/Essay Seminars: PJ Test prep is offering FREE SAT/ACT Practice Test & Results Seminars and FREE College Essay & App Seminars via Zoom in May and July. PJ Test Prep is a small, boutique SAT/ACT prep and tutoring company based here in the South Bay and West LA that has been providing support to DVS students during Test Prep Seminar for several years. Sign up for the seminars at this link.
CollegeWise Slides: Thank you to all the juniors and their families who attended our Juniors! How to Get Ahead on a College Application workshop prior to spring break. Here are the PPT slides to his presentation. You may contact Ian Parker from CollegeWise if you have follow-up questions: ianp@collegewise.com.
Junior College Planning Meetings: Ms. Marquez will begin the Individual Post-DVS College Planning Meetings with juniors and their parent/guardian in May and June. The purpose of these meetings is to discuss next year’s plan, including the college application process and students’ overall post-high school plans. Every Junior is expected to schedule a meeting and have at least one parent/guardian present. However, if a parent/guardian is unable to attend, students are still expected to sign up. This meeting can be in person, over the phone or via Zoom. These meetings can also be conducted in Spanish, if needed. Meeting information:
- Meeting sign-up
- Meeting Agenda
- Complete the Parent/Guardian Letter
- Build a college list using your A-G GPA as your baseline and SAT/ACT test scores, if applicable. For your reference, here is the Just for Juniors presentation Ms. Valle and I did prior to spring break which will support in your GPA calculation. and building your college list.
- If you have any questions about the Individual Junior College Planning Meeting, please reach out to Ms. Marquez, College and Career Counselor, directly (fmarquez@davincischools.org). If you have questions about your transcript, please reach out to Ms. Valle, Academic and Wellness Counselor for the Class of 2026 (cvalle@davincischools.org). I look forward to meeting with each of you to discuss your Post-DVS Plans
- 2025 DVS Yearbook: The 2025 yearbook is ready to purchase at the school yearbook at Varsity Press. Click here for link. Prices start at $55 and are soon to change.

Parent Association

- Teacher and Staff Appreciation week is right around the corner, May 5th – 9th. There are lots of ways to contribute to the celebration. SIGN UP today to help make this week extra special for our amazing DVS faculty and staff. More details in the sign up.
- Orders for DVSPA Spring Merch Fundraiser are still being accepted. Place your ORDER HERE (make sure you’re logged into your MySchoolBucks DaVinci Schools account if you also have a Wiseburn account). Images and more details in this DVSPA Spring Merch flyer. Questions to DVS parent Lori, lj.bowk@gmail.com.

Important Upcoming Dates:

Monday and Tuesday, 4/28-4/29: SBAC Testing-11th Grade
Thursday, 5/1 College Decision Day
Friday, 5/2 Professional Development Day – No School
Friday, 5/2: Senior Prom Night
Monday – Wednesday, 5/5-5/7 WASC Accreditation Visit
Friday, 5/9: Cal Poly SLO Field Trip- 11th Grade Pathways
Monday, 5/12 Senior Beach Day
Monday, 5/12 9th Grade Fulcrum Day
Class of 2025 Graduation Ceremony: June 12th 1:00 pm

Helpful Links:

Some Highlights from the Week:

CLD Workshop- Soap Making in the Chemistry Lab

Collegewise Guest Speaker, Kate Strzelecki, came to speak to 9th and 10th grade families about college planning

SWE- tote-ally cool bag making at lunch for Earth Week

Beats by DVS Speaker/Headphone Dissections- thank everyone who donated!

Posted in Uncategorized

Happy Spring Break!

Posted on April 11, 2025 by Grace Long

Thank you for a great Exhibition Night! The students did a fantastic job showcasing their work and sharing their learning experiences with the community. Thank you to all those who came to our Exhibition Night. It meant a lot to our school to see friends, family, and the community care and support and get a sampling of the thoughtful work we do here at DVS!

Spring Break is here! The school campus will be closed during Spring Break, 4/14-4/18. If families need assistance, office staff will be available remotely Monday-Wednesday, 4/14-4/16, from 8:30 am-12:30 pm. For assistance, please contact Liz Diaz at ediaz@davincischools.org or Brittany Alvarez at balvarez@davincischools.org.

School resumes with a CLD Day on Monday, 4/21.

Happy Spring Break! We hope all DVS families have a wonderful break. We encourage students to stay safe, have fun, eat good food, enjoy quality time with family and friends, and rest well. You will need the recharge to finish the rest of the semester strong!

Week 31 Schedule:

Week 31 Announcements:

Community Learning Day #4: The fourth and final Community Learning Day (CLD) is after Spring Break on Monday, April 21st. Students who filled out the request form with their preference should be receiving workshop info via email. All students will need to fill out this Community Learning Day Attendance Form (DV account required) on 4/21 to receive attendance credit. Even if students did not sign-up for an on campus CLD workshop, they may come to school and attend if they would like – here is a list of workshops available as space permits.
2025 DVS Yearbook: The 2025 yearbook is ready to purchase at the school yearbook at Varsity Press. Click here for link. Prices start at $55 and are soon to change.
9th and 10th Grade Benchmark Testing: 9th and 10th grade students will be completing ELA and math standardized benchmark assessments (NWEA MAP) during April and May. These benchmark assessments provide valuable information on student levels and growth to inform our classroom practice and supports. We encourage students to get plenty of rest, have a healthy breakfast, and to do their best.
11th Grade Statewide Testing: All 11th grade students will be taking the SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) in the areas of English Language Arts and Mathematics as well as the CAST (California Science Test) on April 28th and 29th during school hours. Please see this State Testing Parent Notification Letter for more information.
CollegeWise Workshops: Come hear from leading professionals in college admissions. Typically, these services require a fee, however, this workshop is at no cost for DVS students. Collegewise Workshops will be held on campus in Galileo Room.
- Thursday, April 24th at 5:30pm: Building an Impressive Application Profile in High School for 9th and 10th graders. Please register here.
Parent Association
- Come spend time with other DVS Parents at our next DVSPA Meeting, Wed, April 23rd at 5:30pm on campus the first week back from Spring Break. We will have snacks and a hands on project for Teacher and Staff Appreciation week, as well as updates on our other current projects.
- Orders for DVSPA Spring Merch Fundraiser are being distributed as they arrive and the sale is ongoing. Place your ORDER HERE (make sure you’re logged into your MySchoolBucks DaVinci Schools account if you also have a Wiseburn account). Images and more details in this DVSPA Spring Merch flyer. Questions to DVS parent Lori, lj.bowk@gmail.com.
- Teacher Appreciation Week is May 5th -9th. DVSPA is organizing several different opportunities for families to show their support of our amazing faculty and staff! Look for a sign up genius with specific item requests and dates in the upcoming blog (after spring break). It’s never too early to take time to write a note of appreciation. You may donate funds now via e-gift cards to DVSappreciation@gmail.com or cash donations can be dropped off at the DVS front desk beginning Tues 4/22.

Important Upcoming Dates:

Monday – Friday, 4/14 – 4/18 Spring Break – No School!
Monday, 4/21: Community Learning Day
Wednesday, 4/23: Parent Association Meeting at 5:30pm at DVS
Monday and Tuesday, 4/28-4/29: SBAC Testing-11th Grade
Friday, 5/2: PD Day- No School
Friday, 5/2: Prom Night
Friday, 5/9: Cal Poly SLO Field Trip- 11th Grade Pathways
Graduation Ceremony: June 12th 1:00 pm

Helpful Links:

Some Highlights from the Week:

9th graders enjoyed their college visit to UCI. Go Anteaters!

Thank you for a fantastic Exhibition Night!

Posted in Uncategorized

DVS Exhibition Night Tonight!

Posted on April 8, 2025 by Grace Long

DVS Exhibition Night is TONIGHT! Our students are looking forward to seeing you tonight, Tuesday, April 8th from 5:30-7:30pm. This is a whole-school event where students publicly showcase their projects and provide our guests with a taste of what their learning experiences are like at DVS! Current families, staff, community members, industry partners, and prospective families are all welcome to attend. It’s open house-style — feel free to drop in anytime. All students are expected to attend and present. We look forward to seeing you there!

Here’s a campus map and a list of the exhibits you can look forward to seeing.

Posted in Uncategorized

Week 30 Schedule

Posted on April 4, 2025 by Grace Long

DVS Exhibition Night is coming up next week, Tuesday, April 8th from 5:30-7:30pm! This is a whole-school event where students publicly showcase their projects. The students have been working hard and are looking forward to showcasing a sampling of their hard work this year. Current families, staff, community members, industry partners, and prospective families are all welcome to attend. It’s open house-style — feel free to drop in anytime. All students are expected to attend and present. We look forward to seeing you there!

Week 30 Schedule:

Week 30 Announcements:

SAT Opt-In Day: This coming Monday, 4/7. Please encourage students who are taking the SAT on Monday to get plenty of rest this weekend, eat a healthy breakfast Monday morning, and be at school on time. Room assignments will be posted on campus in the morning.
Community Learning Day #4: The fourth and final Community Learning Day (CLD) is coming up after Spring Break on Monday, April 21st. Students should their preference for their CLD activity on this REQUEST FORM by next Tuesday, April 8th.
9th and 10th Grade Benchmark Testing: 9th and 10th grade students will be completing ELA and math standardized benchmark assessments (NWEA MAP) during April and May. These benchmark assessments provide valuable information on student levels and growth to inform our classroom practice and supports. We encourage students to get plenty of rest, have a healthy breakfast, and do their best.
11th Grade Statewide Testing: All 11th grade students will be taking the SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) in the areas of English Language Arts and Mathematics as well as the CAST (California Science Test) on April 28th and 29th during school hours. Please see this State Testing Parent Notification Letter for more information.
2025 DVS Yearbook: The 2025 yearbook is ready to purchase at the school yearbook at Varsity Press. Click here for link. Prices start at $55 and are soon to change.
Negotiating Your Financial Aid Workshop Series: If you’re looking to make college more affordable, this workshop is for you! This workshop will take place in room 3203 on the DV Communications floor from 6:30-7:30pm on April 4th or April 11th. See this blog post for more information and RSVP for one workshop at this link.
CollegeWise Workshops: Come hear from leading professionals in college admissions. Typically, these services require a fee, however, this workshop is at no cost for DVS students. Collegewise Workshops will be held on campus in Galileo Room.
- Thursday, April 24th at 5:30pm: Building an Impressive Application Profile in High School for 9th and 10th graders. Please register here.

DVS Parent Association (DVSPA):
- Congratulations DVS community! DVSPA is so happy to announce that we have met our fundraising goal this school year for our Advisory Fundraiser! A sincere “Thank You!” to all who donated to support DVS Advisory in this way. Every DVS student will be impacted by your generosity!
- Last chance to get discounted pricing on DVSPA Merch Sale is Tues 4/8. Look for the DVSPA table at Exhibition with sample shirts or in this Merch flyer.
- DVSPA is gearing up for our next service project, Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week, May 5-9th. If you are interested in being a lead for this project, please reach out to DVS parent, Lori asap. lj.bowk@gmail.com More details on other ways to help coming soon.
- We will also be working on items for Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week at our next DVSPA Meeting, Wed, April 23rd at 5:30pm on campus. Join us!

Important Upcoming Dates:

Monday, 4/7: Opt-in SAT School Day (10th & 11th grade)
Monday, 4/7: 9th Grade College Field Trip
Monday, 4/7: 12th Grade Park Field Trip
Tuesday, 4/8 Exhibition Night 5:30pm-7:30pm
Thursday, 4/10 State Seal of Biliteracy Exam
Monday – Friday, 4/14 – 4/18 Spring Break – No School!
Monday, 4/21 Community Learning Day
Wednesday, 4/23 Parent Association Meeting at 5:30pm at DVS
Graduation Ceremony: June 12th 2:00 pm

Helpful Links:

Some Highlights from the Week:

Collegewise consultant, Ian Parker, shared College Admissions information to our 11th grade families

Congrats to DVS Data Science Club!

Physicists Climate Catalyst Innovation Challenge!

CEA Honors visited SoFi Stadium on an architecture and engineering tour

Spanish Fashion Show-students described their outfits and the price of each item in Spanish!

Posted in Uncategorized

Week 29 Schedule

Posted on March 31, 2025 by Grace Long

This week started with fun and informative College Visits for our 11th graders! Students visited LMU and the Claremont Colleges and heard from DVS alumni. Students continued to go full force with their projects and learning this week and are looking forward to a three-day weekend! We honor Cesar Chavez Day in recognition and celebration of his contributions to the civil rights and labor movements.

(Apologies for the late post, apparently, the post did not go through as scheduled on Friday)

Week 29 Schedule:

Week 29 Announcements:

Exhibition Night for DVS is Tuesday, April 8th from 5:30-7:30pm! This is a whole-school event where students publicly showcase their projects. Current families, staff, community members, industry partners, and prospective families are all welcome to attend. It’s open house-style — just drop in anytime. All students are expected to attend and present. We look forward to seeing you there!
Wear Red for Autism Acceptance – Wednesday, April 2! This Wednesday, April 2, students are encouraged to wear red to celebrate Autism Acceptance! Acceptance means recognizing that communication, learning, and social interaction look different for everyone—and that’s a good thing! By supporting and valuing autistic people just as they are, we help create a more inclusive school. Let’s move beyond stereotypes and recognize the strengths, differences, and unique perspectives of autistic individuals. Spread the word, wear red, and celebrate neurodiversity with us! #RedInstead #AutismAcceptance #Neurodiversity

9th and 10th Grade Benchmark Testing: 9th and 10th grade students will be completing ELA and math standardized benchmark assessments (NWEA MAP) during April and May. These benchmark assessments provide valuable information on student levels and growth to inform our classroom practice and supports. We encourage students to get plenty of rest, have a healthy breakfast, and to do their best.
2025 DVS Yearbook: The 2025 yearbook is ready to purchase at the school yearbook at Varsity Press. Click here for link. Prices start at $55 and are soon to change.
Negotiating Your Financial Aid Workshop Series: If you’re looking to make college more affordable, this workshop is for you! This workshop will take place in room 3203 on the DV Communications floor from 6:30-7:30pm. See this blog post for available dates, more information, and RSVP for one workshop at this link.
CollegeWise Workshops: Come hear from leading professionals in college admissions. Typically, these services require a fee, however, this workshop is at no cost for DVS students. Collegewise Workshops will be held on campus in Galileo Room.
- Thursday, April 3rd at 5:30pm: Juniors! How to Get Ahead on a College Application for 11th graders.Please register here.
- Thursday, April 24th at 5:30pm: Building an Impressive Application Profile in High School for 9th and 10th graders. Please register here.
Old speakers/Headphones WANTED! Taube’s 9th grade physicists will be dissecting speakers and headphones for our Beats by DVS project in early April. Please drop off in Taube’s classroom. Thank you!
DVS Parent Association (DVSPA):
- Come join us at our next DVSPA meeting, April 23rd at 5:30pm on campus. We will be working on service projects for Teacher and Staff Appreciation week.
- View the DVSPA exciting new DVS Merch Designs HERE. DVSPA is taking pre-orders for our Apparel Fundraiser! Show your school spirit and pre-order yours today using this ORDER LINK before the price increase.
- Please join us in our final push for our ADVISORY FUNDRAISER – Please consider donating a gift card in any amount to places like Target, Amazon, Trader Joes, etc. by sending it to DVSappreciation@gmail.com. You can make a tax deductible monetary donation at https://davincischools.networkforgood.com/ Select 07 – DaVinci Science AND write “DVSPA Advisory Fundraiser” as the “Note for Donor Scroll.” Thank you SO MUCH to those who have already donated this school year!

Seniors- Class of 2025: Here is the flyer regarding some senior happenings:

Important Upcoming Dates:

Monday, 3/31: Cesar Chavez Day Holiday- No School
Wednesday, 4/2: DVS Families Coffee Time at 5:00pm
Thursday, 4/3: CollegeWise Workshop at 5:30pm
Friday, 4/4: 12th Grade Prospective Students Trip to El Camino College
Monday, 4/7: Opt-in SAT School Day (10th & 11th grade)
Monday, 4/7: 9th Grade College Field Trip
Monday, 4/7: 12th Grade Park Field Trip
Tuesday, 4/8 Exhibition Night 5:30pm-7:30pm
Thursday, 4/10 State Seal of Biliteracy Exam
Monday – Friday, 4/14 – 4/18 Spring Break – No School!
Monday, 4/21 Community Learning Day
Wednesday, 4/23 Parent Association Meeting at 5:30pm at DVS
Graduation Ceremony: June 12th 2:00 pm

Helpful Links:

Some Highlights from the Week:

11th Grade College Tour- Claremont Colleges

11th Grade College Visit- LMU

Human Body System class- pig heart dissections

SWE trip to Algalita Marine Science Research Center- students got to kayak and analyze water quality

Sophomores in World History defended why their country was not to blame for WWI

Posted in Uncategorized

Week 28 Schedule

Posted on March 21, 2025 by Grace Long

Thank you for a great week of SLCs! We really enjoyed seeing families on campus (or on Zoom). We value the time to connect and build relationships with families through individualized conversations. Thank you for partnering with us to optimize our students’ learning experience!

We are back to a regular schedule next week.

Week 28 Schedule:

Week 28 Announcements:

2025 DVS Yearbook: The 2025 yearbook is ready to purchase at the school yearbook at Varsity Press. Click here for link. Prices start at $55 and are soon to change.
9th, 10th, and 11th Grade College Planning Info Session Slides: Thank you to all the freshman and sophomore families that attended their grade-level college planning info sessions. Ms. Valle and Ms. Marquez also presented to all juniors during English class on 3/17 to discuss college applications. Below are the slides from each presentation. Sign-ups for individual 11th grade college planning meetings will be available in a few weeks.
Negotiating Your Financial Aid Workshop Series: If you’re looking to make college more affordable, this workshop is for you! This workshop will take place in room 3203 on the DV Communications floor from 6:30-7:30pm. See this blog post for available dates, more information, and RSVP for one workshop at this link.
CollegeWise Workshops: Come hear from leading professionals in college admissions. Typically, these services require a fee, however, this workshop is at no cost for DVS students. Collegewise Workshops will be held on campus in Galileo Room.
- Thursday, April 3rd at 5:30pm: Juniors! How to Get Ahead on a College Application for 11th graders.Please register here.
- Thursday, April 24th at 5:30pm: Building an Impressive Application Profile in High School for 9th and 10th graders. Please register here.
Old speakers/Headphones WANTED! Taube’s 9th grade physicists will be dissecting speakers and headphones for our Beats by DVS project in early April. Please drop off in Taube’s classroom. Thank you!

DVS Parent Association (DVSPA):
- DVS Parents BINGO NIGHT is Sunday! If it turns out you can make it, you can still RSVP HERE . Bring a fellow DVS Parent and/or come meet other DVS parents you don’t know yet! Sunday, March 23rd, 5-8pm, at Five Point Five
- View the DVSPA exciting new DVS Merch Designs HERE. DVSPA is taking pre-orders for our Apparel Fundraiser! Show your school spirit and pre-order yours today using this ORDER LINK before the price increase.
- Please join us in our final push for our ADVISORY FUNDRAISER – we still have a ways to go to meet our $2,500 goal to support advisory teachers. Please consider donating a gift card in any amount to places like Target, Amazon, Trader Joes, etc. by sending it to DVSappreciation@gmail.com. You can make a tax deductible monetary donation at https://davincischools.networkforgood.com/ Select 07 – DaVinci Science AND write “DVSPA Advisory Fundraiser” as the “Note for Donor Scroll.” Thank you SO MUCH to those who have already donated this school year!

Important Upcoming Dates:

Sunday, 3/23: DVS Parent Association Bingo Night at Five Point Five @ 5pm
Monday, 3/24: 11th Grade College Field Trip
Monday, 3/24: SWE Algalita Field Trip (AM only)
Tuesday, 3/25: Medical Interventions Grand Rounds at 6pm in the Black Box
Wednesday, 3/26: Parent Advisory Committee Meeting #5 at 4:15pm
Friday, 3/28: CEA Honors So-Fi Tour
Monday, 3/31: Cesar Chavez Day Holiday- No School
Wednesday, 4/2: DVS Families Coffee Time at 5:00pm
Thursday, 4/3: CollegeWise Workshop at 5:30pm
Friday, 4/4: 12th Grade Prospective Students Trip to El Camino College
Monday, 4/7: Opt-in SAT School Day (10th & 11th grade)
Monday, 4/7: 9th Grade College Field Trip
Monday, 4/7: 12th Grade Park Field Trip

Helpful Links: